Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Avenger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In the am on 9/15/03 on the freeway traveling about 65 MPH, lateral arm broke off on the left side of my car, causing the left tire to push upwards into the fender and the axle to snap in half. I had to put the car into park at 40 MPH to get it to stop so I would not hit the concrete barrier or the I-5 sign. Dodge did pay for the car to be repaired, but not more than 2 weeks later the car began to make a noise while reversing and while going over bumps in the road, they told me this is the brakes, but another mechanic said that it is the lateral arm again. Dodge is refusing to pay to fix it and when I brought them the car they did not visually inspect the car, they only took it on a test drive. I have been having anxiety attacks everytime I hear that noise, my back and shoulder have been in pain and I have seen a specialist because of this. …
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Avenger. In 2005, while driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact lost control and the vehicle pulled to the right. She depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle crashed into a dirt hill. She had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was informed that the lower ball joints failed. A police report was filed. The contact paid for the repair. One year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle is currently parked at her residence. Dodge wants to conduct an investigation on her vehicle, however, they are asking her to pay out of pocket for the repairs. The contact refuses because she believes this is a manufacturer defect. The VIN, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The failure mileage was 128,000 and current mileage was 140,000.
While driving 55 MPH, the lower later arm ball joint separated and caused the front left wheel to detach. The vehicle wasinvolved in a collision. Tthe driver lost control and the vehicle hit a bridge. The lower lateral arm ball joints were inspected twice befrore this failure, once on on 6/5/2001 under NHTSA recall# 00V421002. During the inspection the dealer's technician found no problem and no repairs were done.
I was driving and the right front control lowerball joint broke. This is the third time this has happened. I called Dodge dealer.they said they fix it once. They won't do it again. Well if the problem still having they need to fix it right. I could of been killed. Something needs to be done about this. Now I was on the hwy
I was driving out of a fast food restaurant, and without any sign or warning my tire snapped off my axle! The service department at the local Dodge dealership was closed so I had to have my car towed to another place that also works on my car whenever I have problems. The part that needed to be fixed was the "lower arm control" on the driver's side of my car. I was very lucky that day, because not more than 15 minutes before this incident I had just driven home, approx. 10 miles, on the highway in 5 o'clock traffic!! I did not get hurt!! I was never mailed a recall notice about the lower arm control; not even in 1999 or 2000!!!!!!!!! I bought my car brand new from Dodge, so I feel like I should have been in somebody's computer system to be able to receive recall notices!!!! Now, that I had to pay for the part to be fixed out of my pocket, how do I go about getting reimbursed? …
I am the owner of a 1996 Dodge Avenger. I received this car from my father. On February 26 2004 as I was leaving work, something broke. Upon having the car towed to the repair shop, I had to have the cv shaft, and the lower control arm assembly, replaced. This cost me out of pocket, $629.45. Then on 10/1/04 I had to have the spindle assembly replaced. Which cost another $ 325.16. I now realize that there was a recall on the problem with my car. I asked my father, who was the owner of the car at the time of the recall, if he was ever notified about the recall and he said no. I am upset now to find out that there was a recall and I had to pay for all the repairs out of my own pocket. I am asking if there is any way to be reimbersed for some or all of the expense that I incurred.
The lower control arm on the left side is going and I've gone to deluca Chrysler in haverhill ma twice and both times told me that it was already serviced and when I asked him what side was serviced he couldn't answer me and I asked him if they could check my since it should still be covered under recall warranty he told me no and just today I was told that any repair like control arms, tie rods, ball joints and struts are supposed to be repaired in pairs and they only repaired the right side on 8/6/02.
Received recall notice #00V421002. Contacted and then visited dealership. Mechanic inspected vehicle and provided a sheet of paper, indicating nothing wrong. Everything has been taken care off. Two months later, vehicle involved in an accident due to ball joint causing arm and axle to break. Vehicle was totaled, but at repair shop being repaired. No injuries.
The car (1996 Dodge Avenger es) was in to the dealer for service. The dealer called to inform me that the lower ball joints were ready to fall off the car and needed replaced at a cost of $260. I asked if this was the same ball joint that was covered in an earlier recall. After a long pause, the dealer confirmed that it was, and that they would take care of it (fix at no cost to me). A second service appointment was scheduled for a week later. The car went in, and the dealer replaced the lower control arms. When I picked the car up, I drove off the lot and immediately heard a clanking noise when ever I hit a bump with the right front wheel. I inspected the car myself and found a large crack in the frame around the front-most upper control arm mounting bolt on the right front strut tower. …
In sum, I was driving the above vehicle and about to make a right hand turn and there was a sudden jerk and the drivers side front of the vehicle had collapsed onto the ground. The drivers side lower ball joint had cracked causing the wheel to fall off and causing major body damage to the front end and the front fender. Also causing damage to the brake lines and the drive axle. This sudden crash also has caused soreness to my back and neck. On June 12, 2001 I had taken my vehicle to midway Dodge, 4747 s pulaski, chicago il 60632, [phone] for recall #00V421002, which was for the inspection of the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. I was told that my vehicle had passed the test designed for this recall and nothing was done. On 25jun01 my ball joints from my vehicle failed causeing the above damage and injuries.
Related recalls
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
NHTSA investigations
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
Suspension complaints in other Avenger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1996 Dodge Avenger?
NHTSA has 59 complaints about the suspension of the 1996 Dodge Avenger, 38% of the model year's 157 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm › lower ball joint (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Avenger suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V421002 (lower ball joint, Dec 18, 2000); NHTSA recall 99V066003 (lower ball joint, Apr 5, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Avenger suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.